This may seem an odd question, but has anyone noticed increased earwax while on hormone therapies - or indeed chemos?
I ask because the audiologist I saw today about my ears asked what drugs I was on and suggested that the tamoxifen may be the cause of increased earwax. I never had any problems until last year, when I suddenly went deaf in one ear, which proved to be completely packed with wax.
Oh now that’s interesting. I have not had an excess of wax as such - at least not that you can get out on the end of a cotton bud… but my ears have been a bit sort of stuff up - like when you have a cold. Not a major problem and I’m nowehere near deaf, just a little muffled for a little while then they pop.
Hi Phoebe,
That is interesting that the audiologist said that, I may make some enquiries for myself because I already suffer with wax build-up and slight loss of hearing, and don’t want it to get worse. One of the chemo drugs seems to affect our nose and sinuses and,of course,they are connected to the ear. One of the ladies on the chemo thread has been suffering terribly with sinusitis after her first and second chemo. I think it’s the F part of the FEC drug triplet that does it. I also I noticed a definite increase in wax production when I was on Tamoxifen before my chemo started, and my ears felt blocked up, with muffled hearing. Its interesting to make the link. Maybe we will have to use some warm oil in our ears once a week just to keep it soft? The next time I see my GP for something I’ll try to remember to ask if that would be a good idea. I have been advised in the past to use warm olive oil for a few days after I’ve had a cold to avoid wax building up, so maybe that will do the trick.
Anyone else noticed this problem, or asked about it and received some advice?
Best wishes to you all
Ann G
Maybe this is one of those side-effects that no-one tells you about! I shall ask my oncologist when I next see her if anyone else has mentioned ears.
Hi all, really pleased to find this thread as I am blocked up in my right ear. Dont think its wax but i get dizzy and stuff, which obviously is a brain tumour to my terrified mind!! I only had the EC and it was the C that did my sinuses no good but much worse on tamoxifen.
Willmention it to my oncolgist.
Hi all
How strange!!
I have had a funny ear ever since starting tamoxifen. Cant really say its earache but niggles me at times and I too have notice more ear wax in there!!!
Thought I was mrs paranoid!!!
I too get problems with ear wax. Usually I can keep it under control, but I’ve been on tamoxifen for six months now and it’s getting noticeably worse.
i just thought i was going deaf… thanks all
Hi everyone,
I have noticed another strange thing. Lots of hard bogeys in my nose ( sorry but no other polite way of saying it )
I have to spend 5 minutes every morning ( in private ) clearing them out. Could be Tamoxifen or maybe Hayfever, but if people have noticed blocked ears then could be linked. Sorry to put you off your lunch.
Lots of love Andrea xx
Hi
After dx of secondaries Sept 07 I started taking Arimidex and since March, my ears have taken it in turn to become blocked. I was prescribed Otomize spray, which seemed to make things worse, but then seemed to settle. My GP examined me again last week and suggested I use olive oil 2 to 3 times a week, plus antibiotics. Anyway, I had immense pain for 2 days and started to use the spray again and visited another GP yesterday. She said she could see flakes of dry skin inside my ears and said this could be the hormone treatment. After years of doing so, I have now stopped using earbuds as this apparently can make things worse.
I’ve also had trouble with not being able to open my eyes in a morning (suffered years ago whilst on Tamoxifen and prescribed drops for dry eyes). Like Andrea, I have also noticed that my nose is dry - amongst other orifices.
The good thing to come out of it all though is the 2 tumours in my eye have dried up and hopefully the treatment is working on my liver and lung.
Love, Jen x
Hi
I’ve had a problem with an ear that feels blocked and has virtually no hearing. Had MRI scan about a year ago which was clear, and ENT consultant has looked in it and decided that it is not in the outer ear, therefore is in the middle ear. He has had me on a load of drugs for about 8 mths and I was due to go and have intravenous drugs for 10 days starting last Friday which is now on hold having been diagnosed with BC on 30th April. Due to start chemo wk after next so maybe it will have an unexpected silver lining of clearing my ear (or maybe it will block my other ear and I’ll be completely deaf!!!).
Kinden
x
Hi the family have said i am going deaf missing bits of converstion and my son was stood outside the front door for ten minutes knocking he cannot decide whether i am deaf or daft but feel better after reading all you messages now think it could be the chemo had 6 doses of taxotere mo
Hi i have had ear problems alot longer than bc but i can definitely sat tamaxifen makes it worse, no you shouldnt use cotton buds it impacts the wax (although sometimes its the only way i can get a bit of relief) And i would be really cautious about olive oil, this has lead me to have a boil in my inner ear which burst my ear drum very painful!!!
thats my moan over, i finished rads on wed and have had a severe throat infection ever since so feeling very sorry for myself
Anna
Hi Jen
Yes we moan about little things like waxy ears, dry noses, constipation etc but forget that these treatments are hopefully keeping us alive. So we shouldnt complain too much.
Its brilliant that you,re treatment is working for you. Best of luck with everything.
Lots of love
Andrea xx